I am a contractor how has dug up city water drain and in the middle of the job the home owner has us thrown out and all because she doesn't have the money to finish she was then offered financing and declined help but refused to pay
1 reply
Feb 20, 2020
If an owner terminates the job before it's complete, a contractor will usually have a few options to make sure they're paid and made whole. For one, if an owner has breached the contract by terminating, or if they've wrongfully terminated you, then legal claims may well be on the table. And, if you're going to pursue a lawsuit, consulting with a Missouri construction lawyer might help to decide how to move forward. Or, if the dispute is under $5,000, taking the matter to small claims court might be an option.
Before deciding to go with a lawsuit, though, keep in mind that there might be some other tools on the table for forcing an owner to pay you what you've earned. And, tools like a demand letter or even a Notice of Intent to Lien can be helpful in bringing an owner to the bargaining table.
And, finally, if there are unpaid amounts owed for work already done on the job - pursuing a mechanics lien could help to recover payment. Mechanics liens will generally be available even if the project wasn't completed, and they can go a long way to force an owner to pay what's owed on the job. More on that option here: (1) Missouri Mechanics Lien Guide and FAQs; and (2) How to File a Missouri Mechanics Lien.